Sarasota, Charlotte seek funds for River Road work

Published: Monday, March 11, 2013 at 6:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 11, 2013 at 6:01 p.m.

SARASOTA COUNTY - Maybe it could be a toll road. Maybe it could be a state highway. Maybe it could be both.

Whatever the future for River Road, one of the most dangerous thoroughfares in the region, the Sarasota County Commission and Charlotte County Commission agree that it must be made wider and safer — and soon.

So, the two commissions are vowing to work together to convince federal and state transportation authorities to make the project a priority — even suggesting the possibility of tolls, if that could help defray the cost.

That unlighted, narrow River Road, which lacks shoulders and streetlights, is hazardous is not in dispute. Year after year, the crash data piles up.

The bottom line is money.

Improving the roughly 12 miles of road stretching from Englewood to Interstate 75 could cost $60 million to $100 million for design, engineering, right-of-way and construction.

The road is entirely in Sarasota County's jurisdiction. Sarasota County could cover some of the cost and is currently adding turning lanes to the River Road and U.S. 41 intersection. But upgrading the entire thoroughfare “is not something the county can do on its own,” Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson said.

Charlotte County, which also depends on River Road as an evacuation route out of Englewood, is just as motivated as Sarasota County in getting conditions on the road improved.

For years, the two counties have separately lobbied to get funding for the project.

Now, the two county commissions intend to speak in solidarity. All 10 commissioners will soon sign a letter appealing to federal and state transportation authorities to make River Road improvements a high priority.

“We're going to put more pressure on them,” Robinson said.

At a meeting last week, commissioners from both counties considered two possibilities that may give the project a jump start. So far, they have not formally endorsed either but are keeping the ideas in mind.

The counties could argue that the roughly 12-mile long River Road, also called the “Englewood Interstate Connector,” should be a state highway — making it the state's responsibility to fund the project.

On the Florida Department of Transportation's website, current counts show 13,400 vehicles using the northern half of the road connecting I-75 and U.S. 41 each day and 8,000 vehicles using the southern half that churns traffic in and out of Englewood.

Traffic is expected to only increase, especially as Neal Communities' 1,999-home Grand Palm development at Center Road and River Road gets built out and more homes and a proposed Publix supermarket are built in the West Villages area flanking U.S. 41 just west of River Road.

The counties may also suggest that the state could partner with a private entity and make the highway a toll road.

Paying tolls could infuriate South County commuters who have come to rely on River Road to get to and from work and to reach major corridors such as U.S. 41 and I-75.

Still, relying on tolls to cover at least some of the costs could make the project more affordable and perhaps get it under way sooner.

In 2007, in an effort to make River Road safer, the county lowered the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph.

Even so, the road continues to be among the most accident prone and deadly in the area.

So far this year, four crashes have occurred on River Road — one with just property damage, two with injuries and another with injuries and a fatality.

In January, Gerald Edward Tindall, 33, of Port Charlotte, died when his car drifted and collided head on with a car driven by Ariel Jordan Bryant, 21, of North Port. Bryant received minor injuries.

A minivan behind Bryant's car also collided with Tindall's car. That driver, 20-year-old Brittany Nicole Thomas of Port Charlotte, received critical injuries and was airlifted to a Bradenton trauma center.

<p><em>SARASOTA COUNTY</em> - Maybe it could be a toll road. Maybe it could be a state highway. Maybe it could be both. </p><p>Whatever the future for River Road, one of the most dangerous thoroughfares in the region, the Sarasota County Commission and Charlotte County Commission agree that it must be made wider and safer — and soon.</p><p>So, the two commissions are vowing to work together to convince federal and state transportation authorities to make the project a priority — even suggesting the possibility of tolls, if that could help defray the cost.</p><p>That unlighted, narrow River Road, which lacks shoulders and streetlights, is hazardous is not in dispute. Year after year, the crash data piles up.</p><p>The bottom line is money.</p><p>Improving the roughly 12 miles of road stretching from Englewood to Interstate 75 could cost $60 million to $100 million for design, engineering, right-of-way and construction.</p><p>The road is entirely in Sarasota County's jurisdiction. Sarasota County could cover some of the cost and is currently adding turning lanes to the River Road and U.S. 41 intersection. But upgrading the entire thoroughfare “is not something the county can do on its own,” Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson said.</p><p>Charlotte County, which also depends on River Road as an evacuation route out of Englewood, is just as motivated as Sarasota County in getting conditions on the road improved.</p><p>For years, the two counties have separately lobbied to get funding for the project.</p><p>Now, the two county commissions intend to speak in solidarity. All 10 commissioners will soon sign a letter appealing to federal and state transportation authorities to make River Road improvements a high priority.</p><p>“We're going to put more pressure on them,” Robinson said.</p><p>At a meeting last week, commissioners from both counties considered two possibilities that may give the project a jump start. So far, they have not formally endorsed either but are keeping the ideas in mind.</p><p>The counties could argue that the roughly 12-mile long River Road, also called the “Englewood Interstate Connector,” should be a state highway — making it the state's responsibility to fund the project.</p><p>On the Florida Department of Transportation's website, current counts show 13,400 vehicles using the northern half of the road connecting I-75 and U.S. 41 each day and 8,000 vehicles using the southern half that churns traffic in and out of Englewood.</p><p>Traffic is expected to only increase, especially as Neal Communities' 1,999-home Grand Palm development at Center Road and River Road gets built out and more homes and a proposed Publix supermarket are built in the West Villages area flanking U.S. 41 just west of River Road.</p><p>The counties may also suggest that the state could partner with a private entity and make the highway a toll road.</p><p>Paying tolls could infuriate South County commuters who have come to rely on River Road to get to and from work and to reach major corridors such as U.S. 41 and I-75.</p><p>Still, relying on tolls to cover at least some of the costs could make the project more affordable and perhaps get it under way sooner.</p><p>In 2007, in an effort to make River Road safer, the county lowered the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph.</p><p>Even so, the road continues to be among the most accident prone and deadly in the area.</p><p>So far this year, four crashes have occurred on River Road — one with just property damage, two with injuries and another with injuries and a fatality.</p><p>In January, Gerald Edward Tindall, 33, of Port Charlotte, died when his car drifted and collided head on with a car driven by Ariel Jordan Bryant, 21, of North Port. Bryant received minor injuries.</p><p>A minivan behind Bryant's car also collided with Tindall's car. That driver, 20-year-old Brittany Nicole Thomas of Port Charlotte, received critical injuries and was airlifted to a Bradenton trauma center.</p>